Isola della Scala Rice Fair Draws 30,000 Despite Rain and Safety Incidents
Isola della Scala. The rain during the first weekend of the Rice Fair did not deter visitors. The appeal of island-style risotto was, as in the past, stronger than the autumn bad weather and brought 30,000 food enthusiasts to the tables of the Palatenda del Pà del Piganzo.
“The fair has really kicked off well,” says Mayor Liana Montalto, “but I am sure it can still grow a lot. From its success, we can find a defining moment, and since the gastronomic aspect is at a very high level, we are thinking of how to leverage it to connect with the territory. Once the event is over, we will sit down to discuss it.”
For years, the fair has aimed at continually improving its quality; for this edition, to address the inconvenience of condensation drops falling from the ceiling onto the tables beneath the palatenda in previous years, some fans were installed. However, one of these fans detached a blade on Sunday evening, slightly injuring two people.
“Fortunately, nothing serious happened,” comments the mayor, “but any possible responsibility will need to be clarified.”
“The pavilion complies with all regulations and inspections,” adds Alberto Fenzi, the events assessor, “and initial checks suggest that the blade broke accidentally. For safety, the fans have been removed.”
Program and events of the fair
The fair continues with its schedule. The most anticipated event of the week is on Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the most popular contest of the fair, the XIV Risotto Palio, a cooking challenge among non-professional cooks from the five districts: Isola Centro, Caselle, Doltra Vo’, Pellegrina, and Tarmassia, each participating with two free risottos and one island-style risotto.
In the competition for free risottos, the dishes include rabbit, eggplant, river fish, spinach, chicken with finferli mushrooms, quail breasts, pork loin and mixed mushrooms, pumpkin with gorgonzola, spinach with gorgonzola, veal with green apple, and pork meat with porcini mushrooms.
The last two editions of the Palio were won by Tarmassia.
Conference and Saturday initiatives
A conference is scheduled among Saturday’s events: at 5 p.m., in the civic hall of Via Cavour, an event organized by the Associazione Nazionale Mutilati Invalidi Civili (National Association of Disabled Civil War Veterans), in collaboration with the Municipality and the Veneto Region, will address “Handicap and Society: Architectural and Mental Barriers.” Speakers include Martina Dello Russo from the Don Calabria Institute in Verona, Matteo Faustini, head of the technical office of the Municipality of Caldiero, and Giuseppe Stefanoni, president of the Comitato regionale mielonesi (Regional Mielonic Committee) for paraplegics.